It is not only Italy that has a famous leaning tower, Wales also has one which can be found on the southeast side of Caerphilly Castle. But why does the tower lean so much?
The southeast tower of Caerphilly Castle leans at approximately 10 degrees because of ground subsidence from the mid-seventeenth century, not due to battle damage as some locals claim.
However, after restoration work, the leaning tower is now supported by a statue of the 4th Marquis of Bute which prevents it from falling over.
Keep reading to find out more about the castle's leaning tower and restoration work.
Why Is Caerphilly Castle Tower Leaning?
The southeast tower of Caerphilly Castle, also known as the leaning tower, was believed to originally house Gilbert de Clare’s senior staff, such as the steward and carver.
The tower looks as if it is about to collapse at any second with two large lumps fallen nearby. According to the castle's guidebook, damage to the tower dates back to the mid-seventeenth century
It's likely that the tower's lean is caused by ground subsidence which caused the tower to split. The cause of the ground subsidence has been linked to the castle's water defences although this has never been proven.
Some locals claim the lean is due to battle damage, however, this theory is not supported by the evidence because the outer face of the tower remains undamaged
You can see the leaning tower from afar on the right hand side of the photo below.
The Caerphilly Castle Leaning Statue
A 6-metre-tall statue of the 4th Marquis of Bute supports the base of the leaning tower at Caerphilly Castle, this was added in 2013 by sculptor John Merrill.
The sculpture depicts John Crichton-Stuart, the 4th Marquess of Bute, who saved the castle from ruin when he carried out restoration works between 1928 and 1939.
Lord Bute was born in the London borough of Chiswick. He was the son of the 3rd Marquess of Bute and Hon. Gwendolen Fitzalan-Howard, a granddaughter of The 13th Duke of Norfolk and daughter of The 1st Baron Howard of Glossop.
He attended Harrow School in London, had a passion for architecture, and was instrumental in the restoration of Caerphilly Castle.
When he sold the remaining Bute family estate in Cardiff in 1938, he became known as ‘the man who sold a city.’
Caerphilly Castle vs Leaning Tower of Pisa
The leaning tower at Caerphilly Castle has a lean of around 10°, compared to the 4° lean of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Both towers lean due to ground subsidence, however, we know that Caerphilly Castle's problems came later in life, likely due to the water defences, where Pisa was built on ground that is too soft from the outset.
Here is a comparison of the two famous leaning buildings:
[table id=1 /]The Guinness Book of World Records had long been recognised the Leaning Tower of Pisa as the world's most lopsided structure but Welsh Assembly Government Heritage authorities, challenged this in 2013, as they claim Caerphilly’s tower leans twice as much as Pisa. They estimated that the destroyed tower at Caerphilly leans more than ten degrees
Pisa lost the record, not to Caerphilly’s leaning tower (sadly), but a German church tower known as the medieval Leaning Tower of Suurhusen
Can You Visit Caerphilly Castle?
Yes, Caerphilly Castle, the second-largest castle in Britain, is open for visitors today.
The castle offers something for all ages. Adults will enjoy the wonderfully preserved historical architecture, educational exhibits, and displays, while the children will love running around the expansive castle and its grounds, listening to the dragon’s tales, running up and down the many towers’ spiral staircases, and indulging in fairy tale fantasies.
Find out more in our full guide to visiting Caerphilly Castle.
History of Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle's construction was ordered by Henry III and originally built in very hostile territory during the 13th century by Gilbert de Clare (Earl of Gloucester and Hertford) as part of his struggle to keep control of Glamorgan.
Gilbert inherited the land when he was 18 years old and began construction on the castle as a method of defence and to subdue the Glamorgan region.
Most of the castle was built in only three years (between 1268 and 1271). Additional water defences, towers, and gatehouses were later added to increase security and protect lowlands from flooding.
The castle saw a lot of fighting between Gilbert, his descendants, and the native Welsh rulers and by the 14th century, the castle had fallen into disrepair. In the early 16th century, it had become a ruin.
The castle's fortunes changed when it fell into the hands of the Bute family in the 18th century.
The Marquess of Bute, John Stuart first took the protective measures but it was his great-grandson, John Crichton-Stuart (the 4th Marquess of Bute) who continued the work by commissioning a major castle repair project in the early 20th century.
In 1947, the castle fell into the hands of the 5th Marquess of Bute. However, to avoid considerable inheritance tax, he sold off much of the estate and gifted Caerphilly Castle to the state.
See my full history of Caerphilly Castle article for a timeline and further information.
Published: 13 June 2022 · Last updated: 15 October 2023